A new report by Transparency International EU has revealed that conservative groups closely aligned with the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement have intensified their lobbying efforts targeting Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), particularly on climate and technology regulations. This development marks a significant escalation in transatlantic political influence campaigns, raising questions about transparency, democratic accountability, and the future direction of European policy.
The Rise of MAGA-Aligned Lobbying in Brussels
According to Transparency International EU, US-based conservative organizations with close ties to the MAGA movement have held multiple meetings with MEPs in recent months. These meetings have primarily involved lawmakers from the far-right Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) group and non-aligned members, who are seen as more receptive to the groups’ positions on climate skepticism and deregulation.
Among the organizations identified are the Heritage Foundation, a prominent US conservative think tank, and Republicans for National Renewal, both of which are not registered on the EU Transparency Register. The report also highlights the involvement of ADF International, a Christian anti-abortion group based in the US, which has become increasingly active in European parliamentary circles.
“Usually, these organisations take a very sceptical view of the climate. And they lobby for fossil fuels,”
said Raphaël Kergueno, Policy Officer at Transparency International EU.
“According to him, these interest groups have also opposed the technology regulations that the EU has adopted in recent years, such as the European Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the Digital Services Act (DSA), in the name of ‘freedom of expression.’
Focus Areas: Climate Skepticism and Tech Deregulation
The lobbying efforts have centered on two main policy fronts: climate change legislation and technology regulation. MAGA-aligned groups have consistently pushed back against the EU’s ambitious climate agenda, advocating for greater reliance on fossil fuels and questioning the scientific consensus on climate change.
On the technology front, these organizations have opposed recent EU regulations such as the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act, arguing that such measures infringe on freedom of expression and stifle innovation. This stance mirrors ongoing debates in the United States, where conservative groups frequently challenge tech regulation as government overreach.
The Abortion Debate Enters the European Arena
A notable shift highlighted in the report is the increasing presence of anti-abortion advocacy within the European Parliament. ADF International has been lobbying MEPs to adopt anti-abortion stances, a topic that previously received little attention at the EU level. While abortion policy remains a matter for individual member states, these groups are seeking to influence national debates through their engagement with MEPs.
“It is an ultra-conservative Christian organisation that lobbies against abortion. It’s a subject that now comes up at MEPs’ meetings that didn’t exist before, because they’re now trying to push or convince MEPs to adopt an anti-abortion stance,”
Kergueno explained.
“Of course, they also have a much more favourable ground to stand on, given the results of the last elections.”
Scale and Patterns of Lobbying Activity
Transparency International EU’s analysis of parliamentary records shows that more than 30,000 meetings between MEPs and lobbyists were recorded in a single year—a 314% increase over the previous mandate, largely due to new rules requiring greater transparency in lobbying activities. Of these, around twenty meetings specifically involved American conservative organizations.
The data reveals a clear pattern: the further right an MEP’s political alignment, the more likely they are to engage with US conservative groups. As Kergueno noted,
“The further to the right you go in the hemicycle, the more you see these American conservative groups appearing. And then slowly, when you move to the centre, it becomes more like corporate lobbyists. And when you move to the left, we get to the civil society organisations. And when we go all the way to the left, to the extreme left, then we see the trade unions appear.”
Among the 20 most active organizations in the European Parliament, 15 represent commercial interests, with the fossil fuel sector maintaining a particularly strong presence. Only five of the top 20 are NGOs, underscoring the dominance of business and industry voices in EU policymaking.
Fossil Fuel Industry: A Parallel Lobbying Force
The report’s findings coincide with a broader surge in lobbying by the fossil fuel industry. In the past year alone, the top seven fossil fuel organizations—Shell, Eni, Total Energies, ExxonMobil, BP, Equinor, and Chevron—have held more than 1,000 meetings with MEPs, with at least half of those focused on climate-related issues. This trend has raised concerns about the prioritization of commercial interests over environmental protection in shaping EU climate policy.
The European Parliament’s Environment Committee, for example, has met most frequently with ExxonMobil and FuelsEurope, a major industry association. These interactions are part of a broader pattern of industry engagement, particularly among centre-right and far-right MEPs.
Transparency and Accountability: New Rules, Old Challenges
The explosion in declared lobbying meetings follows recent scandals involving foreign influence and undisclosed contacts, prompting the European Parliament to tighten its transparency requirements. All MEPs and their assistants are now required to declare meetings with lobbyists and representatives of third countries.
Despite these reforms, compliance remains uneven. While the Greens have declared meetings across the board, the far-right Europe of Sovereign Nations group lags behind, with only 61.5% of its MEPs reporting at least one lobbying meeting. The Patriots for Europe group, despite being the third-largest in Parliament, accounts for just 4% of published meetings, raising questions about undisclosed lobbying activity.
The Broader Context: A Transatlantic Conservative Push
The heightened activity of MAGA-aligned groups in Brussels mirrors lobbying battles in the United States, where conservative organizations and business interests have been fighting to roll back climate legislation and resist new technology regulations. In Washington, groups like the Heritage Foundation and industry associations have launched campaigns to influence lawmakers, sometimes with the backing of former Trump administration officials.
“We are in a fight for our lives,”
said Abigail Ross Hopper, CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, at a recent rally in Washington.
“There’s been a real frenzy since then, trying to help people understand how much is on the line, how many jobs could potentially be lost in various sectors.”
In both the US and EU, the lobbying landscape has become increasingly polarized, with conservative groups mobilizing to defend fossil fuels, oppose climate action, and push back against tech regulation. These campaigns are often supported by well-funded advertising efforts and coordinated outreach to sympathetic lawmakers.
Implications for European Policy
The growing influence of MAGA-aligned groups raises critical questions about the independence of European policymaking and the resilience of the EU’s climate and digital agendas. With the European Parliament’s rightward shift following recent elections, conservative lobbyists now find a more receptive audience for their arguments against climate action and regulatory oversight.
At the same time, the sheer volume of lobbying activity—both from US conservative groups and the fossil fuel industry—highlights the need for continued vigilance and robust transparency measures. As the EU grapples with the twin challenges of climate change and digital transformation, the integrity of its legislative process will depend on the ability of lawmakers to balance competing interests and uphold the public good.
As lobbying battles intensify on both sides of the Atlantic, the role of transparency and public scrutiny will be more important than ever. The European Parliament’s new rules represent a step forward, but effective enforcement and a culture of accountability will be essential to ensure that policy decisions reflect the interests of European citizens, not just those of powerful lobbyists.
The coming months will test the EU’s resolve as it navigates the complex interplay of domestic politics, transatlantic influence, and the urgent imperatives of climate action and digital governance. The outcome will shape not only the future of European policy but also the global response to some of the most pressing challenges of our time.
